Steam-drier.



PATENTEB PEB. 2v, 1906.

S. THURSTENSEN.

STEAM DRIER. APPLICATION rILED Nov. 15. 1905` 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

ML Lux No. 813,750. PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

S. THURSTENSEN.

STEAM DRIER. APPLIoATIoN FILED Nov.15, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

S. THURSTENSEN.

STEAM DRIER. APPLICATION IILIID- Nov. 1s, 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED FEB. 27, 1906.

S. THURSTENSEN.

STEAM DRIER APPLICATION FILED Nov 4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

PATENT OFFICE.

UNITED STATES SOREN THURSTENSEN,

VOGT MACHINE STEAM-DRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 27, 1906.

I Application filed November 15, 1905- Serial No. 287,539.

To @ZZ whom it may concern,.-

Beit known that I, SOREN THURsTENsEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam- Driers, of which the following is a specification..

The object of this invention is tov construct a drier having as many heating-tubes as pos sible arranged into the same for increasing the amount of radiating-surface, and thereby enabling the drying operation to be performed more quickly and satisfactorily than would be the case if fewer tubes were employed. A

Another object of the invention is to perfect the method of discharging water of condensation from the interior of the drier and collecting the water at the end prior to its eduction to a suitable point of discharge.

Another object of the invention is to simplify the method of mounting the tubes and to improve the construction and arrangement of the headersfor educting the water of condensation and at the same time allowing for the necessary expansion and contraction of the tubes incidental to their use.

The invention consists in the features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drier, partly broken out,

showing the arrangement of tubes and headers; Fig. 2, a cross-sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 Fig. 3, a cross-sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l.; Fig. 4, a cross-sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1 through the header near the intake end of the drier; and Fig. 5, a cross-sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Fig. I, showing the intake end of the drier; and Figs. 6 and 7,modiiied forms of intake and discharge headers.

The drier is constructed to have an outer cylindrical shell 1, of boiler-plate or similar material and of suitable length to meet the requirements of use. Within the shell are a series of outer tubes2, arranged in a ring around the interior shell and spaced a short distance from one another, which distance, as shown, is less than the diameter of each of the tubes. Within the circle of outer tubes is a circle of inner tubes 3 of the same size as the outer tubes and located concentrically therewith, leaving the outer wall.

4charge it centrally from the header.

able space between the inner and outer tubes for the accommodation of the material to be dried. Intermediate of the inner and outer tubes are located at equidistant points a suitable number of intermediate tubes 4, which, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, are three in number, although any suitable number other than three may be employed, such as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. The inner intermediate and outer tubes are radially arranged and entered into headers at their opposite ends. The intake-header 5 is formed to have an outer annular chamber 6 and an inner annular chamber 7, which surrounds a central circular opening 8, and the inner and outer annular chambers are connected by radiallyarranged passages 9. The outer annular chamber has a flat inner wall 10, a flat outer wall 11, a curved outer cross-wall 12, and a curved inner cross-wall 13 concentric with The inner annular chamber has similar inner and outer walls 14 and 15, respectively, and the connecting passages 9 have outer walls 16 and inner walls 17,- which are in alinement with the corresponding outerand inner walls of the annular chambers, giving to the entire header a flat inner and outer surface and leaving a central space 8 and intermediate spaces 18 for the deposit of material within the drier. The outer intermediate and connecting tubes are entered into the flat inner face of the intake-header, the outer tubes being entered into the outer annular chambers, the intermediate tubes being entered into the connecting-passages, 4and the inner tubes being entered into the inner annular chamber, as best shown in Figs. 4, 6, and 7. As shown in Fig. 4, the intermediate tubes are three in number, while the connecting passages are six in number, arranged like the spokes of a wheel, so that an intermediate tube will be entered into each alternate passage; but if it is desirable to increase the number of intermediate tubes, it is obvious that additional tubes can be inserted to the extent of tubes in each passage, as shown in Figs/6 and 7.

The opposite ends of the tubes are entered into a discharge-header 19, which is adapted to collect the water of condensation and e header 19 (shown in Fig. 2) is similar in general formation to the intake-header, but difa considerfers materially in a number of important fea- IOO IOS

inner ends 29, which shaft 51, carrying a gear-wheel 52, which meshes with the gear-ring 47 and serves to revolve the drier. The intake end is inclosed by means of an inwardly-flaring hopper 53, attached to the intake-header, and the hopper 53 opens into a fixed shell 57, having on its interior a feed-passage 58, communicating with an intake-opening 59, and the material is carried along the feed-passage by means of a revoluble worm 60 or other suitable feeding mechanism. The revoluble hopper 53 incloses the inner opening 8 and the intermediate openings 18 between the arms of the header and serves to direct the material to the interior of the drier.

The discharge-header is surrounded by and slidably mounted within a peripheral ring 61, to which is bolted an inwardly-extending iiange 62, to which is secured the end of the cylindrical shell 1, and the peripheral ring is placed a slight distance from the curved outer wall of the header, which latter is provided at suitable points with grooves 63, into which are entered guide-flanges 64, which permit longitudinal movement of the header and tubes carried thereby to cause the header and peripheral ring to revolve in unison with one another. The peripheral ring is supported by supporting-rollers 65, spaced laterally a considerable distance against longitudinal displacement by means of guide-rollers 66, which abut against the inner and outer side faces of the peripheral ring. Access may be had to the various tubes by means of hand-holes 67 in the outer faces of the intake and discharge headers, respectively, and the discharge end of the header is closed by means of a casing 68, into which the material falls and from which it is conveyed by means of a worm 69 or similar mechanism.

The outer tubes are supported intermediate of the headers by means of straps 70, which encircle the tubes, and the intermediate tubes are suitably spaced and held by means of spacing-brackets 71, (shown in Fig. 3,) which are provided with curved yokes 74 and a connecting-web 75, which allows the yokes t0 embrace the outer and intermediate tubes and hold them suitably spaced. The inner tures. The discharge-header consists of an outer annular chamber 20, having a ilat inner face-wall 21, a curved outer cross-wall 22, and a curved inner cross-wall 23, connecting the flat inner face 21 with a flat outer face 24. The outer annular chamber is broken into three divisions by radially-arranged crosswalls 25, which are extensions of straight walls 26 of the radiall -extending condensation-passages 27, whic are three in number, as shown in Fig. 2, and have coperating walls 28 parallel with the walls 26, which walls 28 terminate at the point of juncture with the inner curved walls 23. The condensation-passages are reduced in size at their ends terminate in outwardly-opening centrally-located dischargeports 30. The inner circle of tubes have their ends entered into an inner central chamber 31 through a fiat face or wall 32, which is parallel with an outer face-wall 33, and the chamber 31, which chamber, termed the inner steam chamber, is completed by curved cross-walls 34, which are broken by the condensation-passages 27 and by a series of connecting steam passages 35, arranged intermediate of the condensation-passages, and provide uninterrupted communication between the central steam-chamber and the three separated sections or chambers of the outer annular chamber. Steamis supplied to the inner steam-chamber through a pipe 36, centrallylocated, which enters intermediate of the condensation-discharge openings 30. The outer face-walls of the radiating connectingpassages 35 are cut away,- but the openings thus formed are closed by means of a circular plate 37, having in its center a circular opening 38, through which enters the steam-pipe 36, and the plate 37 has connected therewith a chamber 39, having an enlarged mouth 40, which revolves around a stationary dischargehead 41, having laterally entered thereinto a drain-pipe 42. v The discharge-head is provided on its inner end with an annular flange 43, and a ball-bearing stufling-box 44 is provided between the revoluble and fixed portions of the structure in order to prevent leakage at this point and minimize the friction as much as possible. ring of tubes is supported by passing the The intake-header is provided near its petubes through a central plate 76, which is riphery with an inwardly-extending annular supported by means of braces 77, connected with the walls of the shell. Between the outer tubes and the inner wall of the inclosing shell are arranged a series of longitudinally-extending iianges 78, which in combination with the tubes themselves provide a series of shelves or ledges extending entirely around the drier.

In use the material is fed into the intakeopening 59, carried around by means of the worm, and discharged into the intake-hopper. Passing through the hopper the material is discharged into the drier proper through the inner and intermediate openings flange 45, to the outer face of which the cylindrical shell l is attached, and around the periphery of the header extends a bearing-ring 46, on the outer face of which is located a gear-ring 47, the bearing-ring and gear-ring being secured to the periphery of the header by means of bolts 48, which pass through an outwardly-extending flange 49 for securing the parts together. The drier as a whole is mounted to have a slight incline from its initial to its discharge end and is rotatably mounted at its intake end upon rollers 50. Rotation is imparted by means of a powerapart, and the ring is held.

IOO

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ISO

' Vand on entering the drier is carrier around by means of the outer and intermediate tubes, which orm,in effectdedges for distributing, disintegrating, and thoroughly agitating the material during its passage through the drier.

The arrangement of the outer tubes being uniform, the material will be slowly carried up around the side of the drier, and then as the tubes reach a certain degree of elevation and the presence oi the intermediate tubes, which form widely-separated ledges or shelves, serves to more thoroughly agitate the material during its course through the drier. rhe tubes are heated by means Of steam which is admitted through the steam-pipe to the inner steam-chamber, whence a portion of it passes through the inner tubes, and a portion is distributed through the steam-passages 35 of the radiating-arms and allowed to enter three separate chambers or divisions of the outer or annular chamber. A portion of the steam during its passage through the radiating-arms will be admitted to the intermediate tubes, so that all of the tubes will be uniformly heated by the steam admitted from the centrally-located steam-pipe. The water of condensation forming in the inner tubes will be carried to the inner steam-chamber 31 by the inclination of the tubes and be discharged thereinto, and the water as it collects in the inner steam-chamber will iiow out through the steam-passages in the radiating-armsinto one or another of the separated outer sections or chambers in the discharge-header, and in which chamber it will collect and be retained until the cross-walls 25 are carried by the rotation of the drier above the horizontal, at which point the water collected against the cross-walls will run down through the condensation-passages and be discharged through the discharge-ports 30 into the neck 39 and thence through the fixed discharge-head into the discharge-pipe 42.

Since the tubes are heated and cooled through the operation of the drier, it is apparent that more or less expansion and contraction will occur, and this expansion and contraction is provided for by slidably mounting the discharge-header, as indicated,which arrangement allows the tubes and header to expand in unison and at the same time permits the rotation of the header in unison with the peripheral ring and cylindrical shell secured thereto.

The method of forming the headers enables them to be cast into the proper shape and obviates the necessity for bolts or rivets or other means for securing the various parts of the headers together. The provision of a removable gearing-ring and bearing-rings enables these portions of the drier to be formed of hardened steel and secured to the headers, facilitating theirremoval and repair in case of emergency. The arrangement of the headers with radiating-arms enables the number oi' intermediate tubes to be increased by securing an additional number of tubes into 'the arms of the headers without disturbing the arrangement of the inner and: outer rows of tubes. The discharge-header is so constructed that the steam is admitted to and the water of condensation removed from the header at a single central point, which simpli'fies the arrangement of piping and connections for admitting steam and draining 0H the water of condensation. The interposition of the intermediate tubes between vthe inner and outer rows of tubes serves to prevent too much uniformity in the agitation of the material, which would be the case if the intermediate tubes were omitted.

What l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a steam-drier, a revoluble shell or casing, an intake-header provided with an inner chamber and an outer chamber, and passages connecting the inner and outer chambers, a discharge-header having an outer passage divided into sections or compartments by means of cross-walls, an inner steam-chamber, a series of hollow radial arms forming steam-passages leading from the inner steam-chamber to different sections of the outer chamber, a second series of hollow.

radial arms intermediate the arms of the first series and forming condensation-passages leading from the outer chamber inwardly to the center of the steam-chamber and adapted to discharge water of condensation therefrom, a steam-pipe entered into the steamchamber, an outer circle of tubes connecting the outer chambers of the headers, an inner circle of tubes connecting the intake-header with the steam-chamber of the dischargeheader, intermediate tubes leading from the intake-header to the hollow radial arms forming the steam-passages of the dischargeheader, and means for imparting revolution to the headers, substantially as described.

.2. In a steam-drier, an intake-header and a discharge-header having an outer passage divided into sections or compartments by means of cross-walls, a series of hollow radial arms, one for each of the compartments, forming steam-passages leading from the inner steam-chamber to the sections oi the outer chamber and opening in each case near one end thereof, a second series of hollow radial arms intermediate lthe arms of the first series and Jforming condensation-passages, one Jfor each section or compartment of the outer chamber leading inwardly from a point adjacent to the cross-wall and distant from the inlet-opening and adapted to discharge from the center of the header, an outer circle of tubes leading from the intake-header to the outer compartments of the dischargeheader, an inner circle of tubes leading Jfrom the intake-header to the central steamchamber of the discharge-header, and inter- IOO IIO

mediate tubes leading from the intake-header to the arms forming the steam-passages connecting the central steam-chamber of the discharge-header with the outer sections or compartments, substantially as described.

3. In a steam-drier, an intake-header and a discharge-header having an outer passage divided into sections or compartments by means of cross-walls, a series oi hollow radial arms, one for each of the compartments, forming steam-passages leading from the inner steam-chamber to the sections of the outer chamber and opening in each case near one end thereof, a second series of hollow radial arms intermediate the arms of the lirst series and forming condensation-passages, one for each section or compartment of the outer chamber leading inwardly from a point adjacent to the cross-wall and distant from the inlet-opening and adapted to discharge from the center of the header, an outer circle of tubes leading from the intake-header to the outer compartments of the dischargeheader, an inner circle of tubes leading from the intake header to the central steamchamber of the discharge-header, and intermediate tubes leading from the intake-header to the arms forming the steam-passages connecting the central steam-chamber of the discharge-header with the outer sections or compartments, and a rotatably-mounted peripheral ring surrounding one of the headers within which the header is slidably mounted to allow for expansion and contraction, substantially as described,

4. In a steam-drier, the combination of an intake-header provided with an outer annular chamber, an inner annular chamber and connectingpassages leaving interstices or spaces for the admission of material, a ieedhopper adjacent to the intake-header, a discharge-header provided with an outer chamber consisting of separate compartments, an inner steam-chamber and connecting steampassages and having an intermediate series of separate inwardly-extending condensationpassages, one for each section or compartment, for discharging water of condensation near the center of the header, an outwardlyextending discharge-neck secured to the center of the discharge-header for collecting the water of condensation, a Xedly-mounted discharge-head in alinement with the revoluble neck, a ball-bearing stuling-box between the two, a centrally-located steampipe leading to the steam-chamber, a drainpipe leading from the discharge-head, inner, intermediate and outer tubes connecting the headers, and a shell or casing surrounding the tubes, substantially as described.

5. In a steam-drier, a discharge-header consisting of an outer chamber divided by means of cross-walls into separate compartments, an inner steam-chamber, a series of radiating-passages, one for each of the compartments, leading from the inner steamchamber to the compartment, an intermediate series of separate inwardly-extending condensation-passages, one for each of the compartments, leading therefrom at a point adjacent to the cross-wall and having discharge-openings near the center of the header, an intake-header having an inner chamber, an outer chamber and radiating hollow arms, a series of outer tubes connecting the outer passages in the headers, a series of tubes connecting the inner chambers in the headers, and a series of intermediate tubes connecting the radiating steam-passages of the dischargeheader with corresponding hollow arms of the intake-header, substantially as described.

6. In a steam-drier, the combination of an intake-header, a discharge-header, an outer cylindrical shell or casing, a circle of outer tubes, an inner circle of tubes and a plurality of widely-separated intermediate tubes arranged close to tubes of the outer circle and forming in combination with such outer tubes a plurality of widely-separated ledges adapted to give an irregular agitation to the material contained in the drier, the intermediate tubes being few in number as compared with the outer tubes, substantially as described.

SOREN THURSTEN SEN Witnesses:

B. F. KUBAUGH, R. VISSER. 

